Liverpool is a city in Merseyside, England, within the historic county boundaries of Lancashire, famed for its football teams, the Grand National horse race, music (including The Beatles), vibrant nightlife and its links with the arts and culture.

The city served as one of the leading ports linking Europe to the Americas, expanding to become England's second most populated city by the census of 1861, before slowly declining after 1921 as levels of transatlantic shipping dropped. Before airline travel, many Europeans migrating to the New World passed through the city, particularly the Italians and Irish; to this day the city enjoys a large Irish community, with impressive cathedrals for the Anglican and Roman Catholic faiths. In the 18th and early 19th century the port also acted as a gateway for the slave trade, with echoes of this period still evident in places around the city (Penny Lane is named after a slave ship owner, for example).

A comprehensive regeneration of the city centre has caused an influx of new shops, boutiques, and large performance/conference arenas near the waterfront; this has resulted in an upturn in population figures. The regenerated city now plays regular host to national and international conference, media and music events; examples include major political party conferences, the BBC Worldwide Showcase, the MTV Europe Awards, and the Global Entrepreneurship Congress.

Liverpool is a city with great cultural heritage and was awarded the title of European Capital of Culture 2008, with the famous Pier Head Waterfront being a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2004. Liverpool is home to the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and is also renowned for nurturing the talents of a wide range of musicians and band such as The Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Echo and the Bunnymen, and Elvis Costello. The city possesses the largest national museum collection outside of London and has a fascinating and turbulent history as a great world maritime centre. Liverpool is home to Europe's oldest Chinatown. The famous Grand National Horse Race takes place in the outskirts of the city (Aintree). It is also home to two very successful Premier League football clubs, Liverpool and Everton. People from Liverpool are called Liverpudlians, or more popularly, Scousers. The latter name comes from the local lamb stew recipe, scouse. The word "Liverpudlian" can also refer to supporters of Liverpool FC, while "Scouser" is seen as more inclusive of Evertonians.

53.33736-2.8544461Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL IATA) (about 12 km (7.5 mi) to the south of the city centre). Around 160 flights arrive daily from within the UK and Europe. The airport is well-served by low-cost airlines including Easyjet and Ryanair. For a complete listing of airlines and destinations, please see the
destination list.

Immediately outside the arrivals area you will find a taxi rank and bus stops. Taxis to the city centre cost around £12 for the 20-minute journey.

The following local buses cost £2.30 to get into the city centre. They are as quick and cheaper to use than the Airport Express:

The No. 80A, run by Arriva, runs every 15 minutes and takes 45 minutes to the city centre.

The No. 82A, also run by Arriva, runs every 30 minutes and takes around 40 minutes to the city centre. This runs direct to Paradise Street interchange without stopping elsewhere in the city centre.

The No. 86A (Arriva) runs every 15 minutes during the day and now runs through the night, every half hour. This takes a little less time than the 80A as it is a more direct route down Smithdown Road. Journey time is 40 minutes but may be longer at peak traffic times.

The No. 81A also serves the airport, but does not go into the city centre. It may prove useful if you want to visit Woolton or the north of the city, as the route goes round the city ring road, Queens Drive, and terminates in Bootle.

The 80A and 86A also stop at Liverpool South Parkway station. It's a 10-minute journey from where a frequent train service runs to the city centre in about 15 minutes. This may be a better option at times of peak road traffic (8AM-9AM, 5PM-6PM).

The airport offers a Fast Track service, which for a charge, means you can bypass the queue at security, but this tends to be worthwhile only for first flights of the day or if you risk missing your flight.

Manchester Airport (MAN IATA) can also be used and may be a better option. It is about a 45-60 minute drive away from Liverpool. Direct train services also run between Liverpool Lime Street Station and Manchester Airport operated by Northern Rail. Manchester Airport serves a variety of long haul destinations in North America and Asia, as well as short haul services throughout Europe.

Liverpool is served by 53.4075-2.97842Liverpool Lime Street station which is in the heart of the city centre. Trains arrive frequently from many parts of England. Trains from London Euston arrive on the south side (right when viewed from the main entrance), while those from Manchester arrive on the north side. The Wirral line (detailed in the Merseyrail section below) stops in a tube tunnel under the station.

Liverpool is easily arrived at from London, Manchester, and the major cities of northern England by high-speed rail (by British standards - 125 mph) without changing trains. These services are provided by Avanti for London and the west coast and Transpennine Express for the north. Glasgow will also be added to this list, courtesy of Transpennine Express, in late 2019. These destinations are served by other companies, including Northern, EMR, and LNWR, which offer regional stopping services calling smaller destinations on the route. Birmingham and Norwich are the odd-ones-out, and are only connected by stopping services provided by LNWR and EMR respectively. Like all rail travel in the UK, there is no cost premium for using a high-speed service over a stopping one, and high-speed trains are often more modern and comfortable than stopping ones.

Liverpool is only about two hours from London by train. There's a train about every hour, with extra weekday evening peak services from London, and it's not too expensive to get there. You can get a saver ticket for £60 on the day of travel, or for as little as £8 if you book a couple of weeks in advance. Tickets are released three months in advance.

There is a direct train from Manchester Airport to Liverpool every hour at peak times (around 6:30AM–7:30PM). In addition, it is possible to reach Liverpool from Manchester Airport by changing at Manchester Piccadilly or Manchester Oxford Road.

National Express, the UK's largest scheduled coach company, uses Liverpool One Bus Station. London is 4-5 hours away by coach and is served by a half a dozen services per day. Manchester is served by an hourly service taking a similar time to the train (except at rush hour). Manchester Airport can be reached by coach in under one hour, six coaches run per day.

Megabus operates a network across the UK. There is one bus daily from London to Liverpool. Journey time 4–5 hours. Prices also start at £1 and then increase depending on how far in advance you book. Megabus use the Liverpool One Coach Station.

Liverpool One Executive Travel[dead link] provides an executive 16-seat minibus service from all airports, seaports and other locations. Prices vary depending on distances. Call 07761042952 or visit the website for further information.

But motorists beware: if you are travelling from the south, your journey may take you across the River Mersey through one of the two road tunnels from Birkenhead or across the Mersey Gateway Bridge in Runcorn. Each of these crossings are tolled. At the tunnels, payment can be made in cash, but there are no toll booths for the Mersey Gateway Bridge. Instead you must pay online at Merseyflow by midnight the following day or face a penalty charge through the post.

Liverpool Cruise Terminal opened in the city centre in 2007.
Isle of Man Steam Packet services aboard HSC Manannan operate between Douglas and Liverpool city centre during summertime. At other times of the year, ferries dock at Birkenhead, on the other side of the Mersey; for Liverpool, take the train or Mersey Ferry.
Gladstone Dock, Port of Liverpool, in neighbouring Bootle, has P&O Ferries to and from Dublin.
For leisure boats coming from inland, there is a direct connection between the Mersey and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

The Liverpool City Centre map by Andrew Taylor has a scale of 1:3,500, i.e. 18 inches to one mile. The map is so detailed it even names shops and so on. It can be bought at News from Nowhere in Bold St.

Liverpool City Centre is walkable, but those with mobility impairments or who are feeling lazy may prefer buses, Merseyrail, or taxis (including Uber, Ola, and local Delta as well as well as plentiful black cabs).

The Mersey Ferry, ☏+44 151 639-0609 (Head Office). Probably the nicest way to get to the Wirral and back. Immortalised by the hit song "Ferry Cross the Mersey" by Gerry & the Pacemakers, the Mersey ferries offer a fun day out and a good way to see Liverpool from afar.

Buses run out from the centre regularly from Liverpool One Bus Station in Canning Place (mainly to the south) and Queen Square Bus Station in Roe and Hood Sts. (mainly north/east). Both bus stations have travel centres with staff who will assist with which bus to get and from where. These travel centres also stock free transport guides and detailed timetable leaflets for each bus and train service. Highly recommended are the free 'map and guide' leaflets of the four main transport subdivisions of the Liverpool metropolitan area: Liverpool, Wirral (west), Southport (north) and St. Helens (east); these giant fold-out street maps show at a glance the route of every bus service (individual service leaflets are required for timetable information).

Northern Line trains at Liverpool Central, a major interchange between the two lines of the Merseyrail network.

Liverpool and the surrounding region is served by an excellent mass-transit system, which is indispensable for the visitor who wishes to explore outside the city centre. Destinations such as Chester, the Anthony Gormley sculpture "Another Place" (in Crosby), and the seaside town of Southport are popular tourist destinations on the network.

Due to the short distances involved, and the few central stations, the Merseyrail network is of limited value for money getting around the City Centre as the stations can be usually be walked between in the time it takes to descend, travel, and ascend, with the possible exception of James Street to Lime Street. The network has several gaps in coverage as the latest expansions of the City Centre (such as the Baltic Triangle and North Docks), and Anfield Stadium do not have nearby stations. For different reasons, the Knowledge Quarter university district also suffers from poor Merseyrail connectivity, with the nearest station down a steep hill. The local government is seeking to amend some of these deficits - for example, funding has been approved to re-open a defunct station in the Baltic Triangle - but this is not expected to open until 2022.

Map of the Merseyrail network and City Line.

The two Merseyrail lines are:

Northern Line (blue): This runs south-north from Hunts Cross to Southport, with branches to Ormskirk and Kirkby. Each branch runs at least twice an hour from 6AM (8AM on Sunday) to midnight, as does the main line, & the Ormskirk and Kirkby branches run along the main line as far as Liverpool Central.

Wirral Line (green): Trains on this line serve the city centre in a loop (James Street > Moorfields > Lime Street > Central > James Street), before running through a tunnel under the Mersey to Birkenhead. There, they branch out to West Kirby and Chester, with further branches to New Brighton and Ellesmere Port. Each branch runs at least twice an hour from 6AM (8AM on Sundays) to midnight, and all 4 branches run onto the loop.

Merseytravel also manages:

City Line (red): Not really a Merseyrail line, but a collective name encompassing all mainline local services from Lime Street. It has 4 branches, unusually named "books" after the booklets the timetables are distributed in:

Book 2 serves Liverpool South Parkway, branching out there to Runcorn and Crewe (local half-hourly; expresses to London and Birmingham also use this line), and to Warrington Central and Manchester Oxford Road & Piccadilly (local half-hourly, express half-hourly).

Book 3 services, along the world's first mainline railway, run to Manchester (hourly stopping trains to Victoria, hourly expresses to Oxford Road and Piccadilly (local services half-hourly, expresses half-hourly).

Book 4 connects Liverpool with St Helen's and Wigan North Western, and Blackpool. Local services at least twice an hour run 6AM (9AM on Sundays) to midnight. Hourly express services continue to Preston. On their previous journey into Lime Street, many of these expresses came via South Parkway, which may be beneficial to passengers bearing luggage.

The City Centre is served by four stations. The Wirral line serves all in a clockwise loop, while the Northern line runs both ways north-south and serves Liverpool Central and Moorfields. City line trains use ground-level platforms at Lime Street.

53.4087-2.98943Moorfields is located on a small one-way street between Dale and Tithebarn Sts. in the business district.

53.4075-2.97844Lime Street is in a prominent position in the north-east of the city centre. It is closest to the museums on William Brown St.

53.4048-2.98025Liverpool Central is in a shopping centre accessed from Ranelagh and Bold Sts. It is most convenient for the shopping area & cathedrals.

53.4048-2.99176James Street is accessed by lifts on James St. or a steep ramp (limited access, rush hours only) on Water St. Nearby sights include the Liver Building on Pier Head.

Liverpool South Parkway, on the City and Northern lines. It is the closest station to John Lennon Airport, to which it has a shuttle bus.

If you are switching from Merseyrail to the National Rail network, use Lime Street, which Liverpool's main station; Liverpool Central is only the central station of the Merseyrail network. In addition, some locals may refer to services on the City Line as the Northern, named after the regional train operating company, which should not be confused with the Northern Line run by Merseyrail.

A common mistake made by visitors is to think of the Wirral Line's city-centre loop as a circular line - implying that if one misses their stop, they may wait for it to come around again. In reality the loop is shaped like a lasso; if you stay on a train after passing through James Street a second time you will unexpectedly find yourself in Birkenhead.

Saveaway, Solo and Trio travel passes can be purchased from travel centres or Merseyrail stations. Liverpool and its surrounding areas are divided up into areas, each sub-divided into zones: the cost of each ticket typically depends upon how many zones/areas you want to travel in. If a journey takes you outside the boundary allowed by your ticket, you can typically purchase a regular ticket on the bus or train to cover just the extra required.

Solo and Trio passes are weekly, monthly or annual travel passes, usable at any time of the day. Solo tickets may be used only on buses; Trio tickets may be used on buses, ferries or Merseyrail trains. The pass may only be purchased from Merseytravel centres, but it can be renewed (up to three days before expiry) at any travel or train station in Merseyside.

Walrus cards are smart travel cards that are ideal for the majority of short term visitors. They are cheap, off-peak (after 9:30AM M-F, all day Sa & Su) single-day tickets that cover buses, ferries and Merseyrail trains. They may also be used by more than one person (although not at the same time). They are £3.90 for unlimited off-peak travel in 'Area C' (covering the city centre, west out to Huyton, north to Crosby and south to Speke), and £5.20 for an 'All-Zone' ticket covering the whole of the Merseytravel area (perfect for visiting the Wirral, Chester or Southport). Cards are available from all stations, Travelcentres, and shops displaying the yellow 'PayPoint' sign.

The Walrus card is being phased out in favour of the Metro Card, to which Merseytravel plan to add advanced features including online ticket purchasing and eventually tap-in-tap-out ticketing. As of 2019, the two systems are both in use and functionally indistinguishable.

Adult bus fares on the main operators are:
Arriva flat fare of £2.30 throughout the Liverpool area, £3.70 for Liverpool area Day Ticket, £4.40 for Northwest area.
Stagecoach flat fare of £2.00 throughout the Liverpool area, £3.30 for Liverpool area Day Ticket, £3.60 for Northwest area.
Arriva and Stagecoach Day and Weekly tickets may be used on either companies buses on new Quality Partnership Routes 10/10A/10B/10C (Huyton,St Helens), 86/86A/86D/86E( Speke,Airport,South Parkway), 53/53A (Crosby,Aintree), 14/14X (Croxteth,Kirkby). Similar flat fares are available from the other operators as well. There are a few night bus services on a Saturday night costing £3.00. (All prices correct as of April 2017.)

Some buses, such as early morning and hospital services, have a fixed fare of £1.10. This includes the City Centre Circular buses C1 to C5.

If you plan to travel a lot, a pass presents much better value. Generally speaking, you save money with two or more train trips or three or more bus journeys.

As of 2019, both major bus companies accept contactless payment (including Apple Pay and Google Pay, although unlike London you still have to buy a ticket from the driver). Having spare cash is recommended as some buses on minor routes may not yet be equipped.

National Cycle Route 56, National Cycle Route 62 and 810 run into Liverpool.

A useful cycle map of Liverpool called 'Liverpool Cycle Map' is apparently jointly issued by Merseytravel, the Liverpool City Council, and Travelwise Merseyside. It is free and can be ordered at 0151 330 1253, or http://www.letstravelwise.org/content227_Cycling.html. You might be lucky to be given one at a store, such as GIANT.

Citybike Liverpool (Liverpool Citybike, Hourbike), 39 Pilgrims Way, Bisley, Surrey, GU24 9DQ, ☏+44 151 374-2034, ✉citybike@liverpool.gov.uk. Liverpool’s citybike cycle hire scheme offers bike hire from more than 140 stations across the city. It's the largest public bicycle hire scheme in the country outside London and there will soon will be a total of 1,000 bikes available to hire spread across 160 locations. You need to register if you want to participate (available by internet or phone call). If you want to hire a bike for a longer time at a stretch, Citybike may not be too convenient.£3 per day, £9 for a week or £60 for a year. (updated Jun 2015)

Giant, Parliament St, opposite Grafton St. Opens at 10AM. A bicycle dealer which also rents out bikes of the very upmarket type. Their policy seems to be not to rent out locks to avoid any responsibility if the bike gets stolen (which seems an unusual idea, but that seems to be what they do), so be prepared to bring a lock or buy one from them. Nice staff.£40 for 2 days. (updated Aug 2015)

English is the main language, but it is spoken with a very distinctive Scouse accent that has strong Irish and Welsh influences, and differs greatly even from that of the surrounding areas. There was historically a large Welsh-speaking population in Liverpool, to the extent that the National Eisteddfod was held in the city three times between 1884 and 1929. While there is still a Welsh-speaking minority, most Welsh-descended people adopted English as their sole native language over the course of the 20th century. Due to the city's status as a port city and waves of immigration over the centuries, Chinese, Italian, French, and Spanish are spoken by some. Indeed, Liverpool is home to Europe's oldest permanent Chinese community. In some parts, South American Spanish is spoken due to immigration from Latin America. Creole languages can be heard occasionally due to the large Afro-Caribbean community.

Liverpool is particularly famous for its architecture, to the point where English Heritage consider it England's finest Victorian city. Once dilapidated and dirty during the dark times of the 1980s, modern Liverpool presents its architecture with full civic pride.

The harbour of Liverpool has played a very important role in modern history of the city. The wharf area drained by the Mersey River gives to the city an air of antiquity, which is quite strange and interesting because of the contrast between modern buildings and conventional buildings. The Pier Head has been recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

53.40293931886-2.99562513828281Museum of Liverpool, Pier Head, Liverpool Waterfront, Liverpool L3 1DG (on the riverside), ☏+44 151 478 4545. 10AM-5PM. A large museum all about the city of Liverpool and its history from ancient inhabitants of the area to its modern revival. Not to be confused with the World Museum, which is more "general" in scope. The free John Lennon and Yoko Ono "Double Fantasy" exhibit is operating until 3 November 2019.Free. (updated Jul 2019)

53.40585-2.995922Royal Liver Building (on the riverside). Iconic symbol of Liverpool waterfront. This 1911 skyscraper still dominates the distinctive Liverpool skyline. It is the home of the legendary Liver Birds that sit on top of the building looking out across to the Wirral. The river-facing face of the clock is six feet larger in diameter than that of the clock tower at Westminster.

53.399-2.9923The Beatles Story (Fab4D Cinema), Pier Head. A film telling a story using The Beatles as a theme.

53.40454-2.996054Canada Boulevard, The Pierhead. Runs the entire length of the Three Graces frontage and consists of a boulevard of maple trees with plaques laid into the pavement listing the Canadian ships lost during the Second World war.

53.40032-2.992647Albert Dock (on the riverside). This is one of the more sophisticated places in Liverpool and is situated in the largest collection of Grade I listed buildings in the UK. Old warehouses have been converted into shops, apartments, restaurants, pubs, hotels, galleries and museums. For fans of the old This Morning with Richard and Judy TV programme, this is also where the 3D island weather map was in the centre of the dock on the water.Free.

53.40867-2.980179St George's Hall, Lime St (near railway station). A mammoth of a Greco-Roman-style building which was built by wealthy merchants for the people of the city. It is arguably the finest neo-classical building in Western Europe, and has been thoroughly restored for Capital of Culture Year. Inside it has one of the best church organs in Europe. On the outside it has a selection of classical murals which were thought quite shocking in their day (due to the shameful female nudity).Free.

53.40992-2.9816210World Museum Liverpool, William Brown Street, L3 8EN (near St. George's Hall). This is a fine building and well worth a visit. It contains an excellent collection of British rocketry exhibits, as well as the best Egyptological collection outside London.Free.

53.40713-2.9916513Liverpool Town Hall. Built in 1754, the Official Residence of Liverpool's Lord Mayor is an elegant stone building, having two fronts; one towards Castle Street, the other towards the area formed by the New Exchange Buildings. Each front consists of an elegant range of Corinthian columns, supporting a pediment, and are themselves supported by a rustic base. Between the capitals are heads, and emblems of commerce in basso-relievo; and on the pediment of the grand front is a noble piece of sculpture representing Commerce committing her treasures to the race of Neptune.

53.40617-2.9571715Williamson's Tunnels, The Old Stable Yard, Smithdown Lane, L7 3EE, ☏+44 151 709-6868, ✉enquiries@williamsontunnels.co.uk. Heritage Centre Tu-Su. In the early 1800s, a Liverpool tobacco merchant, Joseph Williamson, funded the construction of an enormous labyrinth of tunnels under the Edge Hill area of Liverpool. Nobody knows his reasons for doing so though many guess it as an act of philanthropy, using his wealth to provide jobs and training for thousands of Liverpool workers. There is also a Williamson's Tunnels Heritage Centre.

53.40415-2.9838916The Bluecoat, School Lane, L1 3BX, ☏+44 151 702-5324, ✉info@thebluecoat.org.uk. Daily 10AM-6PM. The Bluecoat is the oldest Grade 1 listed building in Liverpool’s city centre, dating back to 1717. Following a £14.5 million redevelopment, it re-opened in March 2008 with a new wing of galleries and a state-of-the-art performance space. It showcases talent across artistic disciplines including visual art, music, literature, dance and live art. It helps nurture new talent by providing studio spaces for artists.Free.

53.4022-2.977817FACT (Foundation for Art and Creative Technology), 88 Wood Street, L1 4QD, ☏+44 151 707-4444, ✉operations@fact.co.uk. Offers exhibitions, film and participant-led art projects. The building is home to three galleries (showing four exhibitions per year), a beautiful café operated by the team behind LEAF on Bold Street, a cosy bar and four film screens.Usualy free.

53.40704-2.9948118Our Lady and St Nicholas church (just off the riverside). This is the city's parish church and home to the third Liver Bird (there are in fact three of them, not two).

53.40496-2.9685419Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King (Paddy's Wigwam), Cathedral House, Mount Pleasant, L3 5TQ, ☏+44 151 709-9222. Catholic. Affectionately known by the locals as Paddy's Wigwam or "the Pope's launching pad". Visit on a sunny day as the stained glass ceiling looks fantastic!Free.

53.3974-2.9731120Liverpool Cathedral (Anglican Cathedral), St James Mount, L1 7AZ, ☏+44 151 709-6271. It may not look like a wigwam, but is so imposing that the architect of Lord Derby's tomb claimed that no self-respecting church mouse would live there. As a result, he incorporated a mouse into the design of the tomb - it's just under Lord Derby's pillow. Liverpool Cathedral is one of the finest examples in the world of Gothic revival architecture. The building is truly vast, as the largest religious building in the UK and one of the largest cathedrals in the world. On a clear day, the tower affords breathtaking views over Liverpool, Merseyside and beyond, with some of Manchester's skyscrapers visible if weather permits.Free. (updated Jul 2019)

53.39502-2.9650621Princes Road Synagogue (Liverpool Old Hebrew Congregation). This is an impressive combination of Gothic and Moorish architecture by the Audsley brothers. The colourful interior has to be seen to be believed. Tours can be arranged through their web site.

53.39316-2.9616922[dead link]Greek Orthodox Church of St Nicholas, Princess Road, Toxteth, Liverpool, L8 1XB, ☏+44 151 724-3500, ✉friakovos@gmail.com. Dedicated to St Nicholas the patron saint of seafarers. Built between 1865 and 1870, it was the second purpose built Greek Orthodox Church in England. The architecture of the building is a typical example of the Byzantine style as used in many Eastern Greek Churches. A typical feature is the four domes of the building. Henry Summers, a master builder who built many fine buildings in the city, was commissioned to build the church.

53.40175-2.9751626St Luke's Church (The Bombed-Out Church, Church of St Luke), on the corner of Berry St and Leece St (From the city centre, just walk up Bold St). St Luke's Church was badly damaged during the Liverpool Blitz in 1941, and remains as a roofless shell. It now stands as a memorial to those who were lost in the war, and is also a venue for exhibitions and events (such as, open-air cinema). (updated Aug 2015)

53.33678-2.8742127Speke Hall, The Walk, Speke, L24 1XD (near John Lennon Airport), ☏+44 151 427-7231, ✉spekehall@nationaltrust.org.uk. This is a half-timbered Tudor house set on large grounds. It has parts dating back to the 1530s. Easily accessible from John Lennon Airport, as these days it is practically at the end of the runway. (updated Jul 2019)

53.44283-2.8920728[dead link]Croxteth Hall and Country Park. This is one of Liverpool's most important heritage sites, one of "the finest working country estates in the North West" and was the winner of the European Capital of Culture 2008. The park is at the heart of what was once a great country estate stretching hundreds of square miles and was the ancestral home of the Molyneux family, the Earls of Sefton. After the death of the last Earl it was given to the City of Liverpool. The estate has four main attractions - The Historic Hall, Croxteth Home Farm, the Victorian Walled Garden and a 500-acre country park including the new Croxteth Local Nature Reserve. A new addition to what's on offer at Croxteth is the West Derby Courthouse. Dating from the reign of Elizabeth I, this is one of the oldest public buildings in Liverpool.

53.37356-2.9214629Sudley House, Mossley Hill Road, Aigburth. An art gallery which contains the collection of George Holt in its original setting. It includes work by Thomas Gainsborough, Joshua Reynolds, Edwin Landseer and J. M. W. Turner.Free.

For those in a hurry there are a number of operators offering guided tours, either using their own transportation or offering their services as "hop-on, hop-off Guides" on your coach or offering guided walks.
The best way of getting an overview of the city, is by taking the City Explorer open-top bus run by Maghull Coaches. With 12 stops you can hop on and off all day. Qualified local guides provide the commentary and can answer your questions about the city. For Beatles fans, there is the Magical Mystery Tour which will take you around the places associated with the Beatles both in the city centre and in the suburbs. For a more tailored tour, there's Liverpool Entente Cordiale Tours. Their Liverpool tour guides can plan a walk for you or hop on your coach and guide you around the city. They offer tours in English or French.

Liverpool Cycle Tours, ☏+44 7986 139 531. They have 4 scheduled tours, all of which run in small groups of no more than 10 people. Discounts may be available by email. (updated Jun 2015)

Shiverpool. This offers three different tours around Liverpool. The Hope Street shivers is based around the Cathedrals, Auld city shivers starting from the slaughterhouse pub on Fenwick Street and Shiver me Timbers based around the Albert Docks. Wrap up warm. Prior booking required.

The Bluecoat, School Lane, L1 3BX, ☏+44 151 702-5324, ✉info@thebluecoat.org.uk. The Bluecoat (not to be confused with The Bluecoat School, which is a grammar school in Wavertree) is a world-famous prestigious school dating back to the 18th century, and is one of the oldest arts schools in Europe. It hosts arts exhibitions as well as music and literary events, but also offers tuition in fine art, music and literature.

Arts Club, 90 Seel St, L1 4BH, ☏+44 151 559-3773. A concert venue which hosts things like Jazz concerts with well-known artists. Nice size (might accommodate around 400 people; there are no seats).Tickts in the range of ₤20 to 30.

International Beatleweek (The Cavern Club, Adelphi Hotel, and other venues around the city), ☏+44 151 236 9091, ✉bookings@internationalbeatleweek.com. 21 - 27 August 2019. An annual festival celebrating the Fab Four. A vast list of gigs performed by bands from all over the world, the annual Beatles Convention, plus screenings and other events looking back on the Beatles' career and their relationship with their home city.Ticketed events £5-£30. (updated Aug 2019)

53.40126-2.9928510Merseyside Maritime Museum, Albert Dock, L3 4AQ (on the Liverpool waterfront), ☏+44 151 478-4499. Daily 10AM-5PM. Dedicated to the maritime history of the city, complete with galleries on customs and excise and emigration to the New World. There are also a number of vessels to see, such as the Mersey river tug Brocklebank and the river cargo carrier Wyncham. A museum permanent gallery is devoted to the Titanic, Lusitania and Empress of Ireland, ocean liners lost at sea from 1912-1915 with a total of 3,700 fatalities.free.

53.401-2.99311International Slavery Museum, Albert Dock, L3 4AX (Within the Merseyside Maritime Museum), ☏+44 151 478-4499. 10AM-5PM. "Our aim is to address ignorance and misunderstanding by looking at the deep and permanent impact of slavery and the slave trade on Africa, South America, the USA, the Caribbean and Western Europe. Thus we will increase our understanding of the world around us." Dr David Fleming OBE, director, National Museums LiverpoolFree.

Western Approaches, 1-3 Rumford Street, Exchange Flags, Liverpool, Merseyside L2 8SZ, ☏+44 151 227 2008, ✉info@westernapproaches.org.uk. 10AM-5PM. A museum in the once a top-secret nerve centre in World War II Britain. This command centre based in Liverpool's city centre is underground and was the key communication point to Britain's gallant fleet of Royal Navy warships based in the Atlantic ocean.£10.50.

53.39926-2.9918412The Beatles Story, Albert Dock, L3 4AD, ☏+44 151 709-1963, ✉info@beatlesstory.com. The Beatles began in Liverpool. The Beatles Story is the only museum in the world that is entirely Beatles-themed, with exhibitions such as their instruments and other artifacts. Other attractions based on The Beatles include their homes, Penny Lane, commemorative statues, Strawberry Fields and others.£14.95 (age 17 and up). (updated Aug 2016)

Spioenkop is Afrikaans for "Lookout Hill" - a steep hill 25 miles west of Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. In 1900 Ladysmith was besieged by the Boers; British troops stormed the hill to try to break their lines, and held it for 24 hours in a bloody and bungled battle. Gandhi was a stretcher-bearer here, and Winston Churchill in the thick of it as a war correspondent. The Lancashire Fusiliers and the Royal Lancasters, both with many Liverpool men, were heavily engaged. The British eventually withdrew, but succeeded in relieving Ladysmith four weeks later.

In England, 19th C football crowds just stood around the pitch, jostling for a view. At the big clubs this became unmanageable so they erected earth embankments, and later built stadia. Arsenal's was the first to be called "Spion Kop", closely followed by Liverpool then other clubs: both referred to a steep terrace for home supporters behind the goals. These give a great view of action around the near goal, but on a misty winter evening it's sometimes hard to see what's happening around the far goalmouth.

But that was a familiar feeling to those fans' Victorian forebears. The British assault on Spioenkop took place in night, fog and confusion. Had they taken the nearby main summits as intended, they would have routed the Boers. Instead, as daybreak burned away the mist, they found themselves on a lesser hill from which they couldn't bombard the enemy, and couldn't defend. They'd captured the wrong Kop.

53.430819-2.96082813Liverpool FC, Anfield Rd, L4 0TH (2 miles north of centre off A5089 Walton Breck Road), ☏+44 151 260-6677. Liverpool play in the Premier League, the top tier of English football, and their women's team plays in the Women's Super League. The men are one of the most successful clubs in the country, having won six European Cups and 18 domestic league titles. Their fans are famous the world over for the unique atmosphere they create at Anfield and the singing of "You'll Never Walk Alone" on match days. While the rivalry with neighbouring Everton is intense (though famously friendly), it is the rivalry with Manchester United that is taken most seriously by the fans. Anfield has a capacity of 54,000. (updated Sep 2019)

53.438889-2.96638914Everton FC, Goodison Rd, L4 4EL (Take any bus up Walton Lane or Walton Road), ☏+44 871 663 1878. Everton play in the Premier League, the top tier of English football, and their women's team plays in the Women's Super League. The men are one of the oldest football clubs in England, and have spent more seasons in the top division than any other club; their fans are known as "Toffees". They play at Goodison Park, capacity 40,000, 2 miles north of city centre. (updated Sep 2019)

Go to the races at 53.474-2.95415Aintree, Ormskirk Rd L9 5AS (5 miles north of city off A59; trains to Aintree). This course is renowned as home of the Grand National, the most formidable jumps race in the world, held in April each year. (Liverpool is mobbed when it's on.) They hold other jumps races in winter. (updated Mar 2020)

Although the main shopping street in Liverpool is dominated by the same chain stores you'll find in any other large UK city, Liverpool has many distinctive shops of its own, including:

53.403677-2.9835241Gostins Arcade, 32-36 Hanover Street. An alternative shopping centre which is definitely worth a look. The small shops inside sell goods ranging from books to tattoos.

53.404-2.97672Grand Central Hall, 35 Renshaw St. An alternative shopping centre which is definitely worth a look. The 40 small shops inside sell goods ranging from alternative clothing to used furniture.

53.404-2.9863Liverpool One, Liverpool One, Paradise St. Landmark development opened in 2008, redefining the city with three levels of shopping and entertainment and even a park. Offers a mixture of familiar highstreet chains and fashionable boutique stores

53.40687-2.985874MetQuarter, 35 Whitechapel, L1 6DA. This shopping centre focuses on designer-label fashion and has more than 40 stores.

53.4042-2.98395The Bluecoat. Located in the heart of Liverpool's shopping district, the Bluecoat houses a number of specialist independent retailers offering an eclectic range of products. Stocking the best in contemporary craft, design, fashion and homewares, the shops at the Bluecoat should be your first destination in the city for the unique and the unusual: Display Centre, Drum, Landbaby, Purlesque, Robert Porter.

The upper part of Bold St (where it is not pedestrianised) has a number of independent dealers. There are also many nice cafes and restaurants in between.

53.402573-2.9777249News from Nowhere, 96 Bold Street, L1 4HY, ☏+44 151 708-7270. A left-leaning bookshop which is impressively stocked on political topics (even as regards journals and newspapers), but has an interesting choice of books on other topics, too.

53.40608-2.9870210Cavern Walks, Mathew St, Liverpool L2 6RE (in Liverpool city centre, in the Cavern Quarter: on Mathew street there is also have an entrance off Lord Street on Doran's Lane, you can see the sign, which takes you to the entrance on Harrington Street), ☏+44151 236 9082, ✉garethhide@cavernwalks.co.uk. The famous Cavern Club is part of the shopping centre (updated Feb 2017)

There are various pubs serving food across the city centre and its suburbs. The two main areas are the City Centre and Lark Lane about three miles from the city centre in Aigburth. There are various restaurants on Allerton Road (near Liverpool South Parkway) as well. Expect to spend £10-15 for a meal for two. Check with your hotel first if they allow food delivery. There is also quite a number of places to eat in Liverpool One.

53.404542-2.9841732Espresso Bluecoat (Bluecoats), School Ln. 8AM-6PM daily (later when there is an event on). Offering Illy coffee, Jing leaf teas, Monbana hot chocolate and a range of soft drinks together with a selection of sandwiches, salads, homemade cakes and biscuits that are freshly made on the premises and able to be eaten on site or taken away. Also available, is a fine selection of alcoholic beverages ranging from locally produced bottled lager to wines by the glass or by the bottle.

53.404378-2.9758147Kimo's, 38-44 Mt Pleasant, L3 5SD, ☏+44 151 707-8288. Daily 10AM-11PM. Look for the entrance opposite the NCP Car Park on Mount Pleasant for one of Liverpool's favourite student cafes. It has a fine selection of western foods (a superb Club Sandwich) and Arabic foods (cous cous and kebabs). There is also a smaller branch nearby the University of Liverpool.£5-10..

Bold St has a nice mixture of independent shops and interesting places to eat.

53.402627-2.97733911Miyagi, 77 Bold Street, ☏+44 151 329-0222. Very good and fresh Japanese cuisine, really high standard, and delicious. The interior is a very successful fusion of the presumably Victorian style of the building and Japanese aesthetics. Highly recommended.You can eat for little more than £10 (if you do not have a drink or order tap water), but there are lots of small treats which probably add up quickly.

53.402943-2.97756614Leaf, 65-67 Bold St, L1 4EZ, ☏+44 151 707-7747. 10AM-midnight. Large and quite popular cafe which caters to a modern population (there is even a vegan English breakfast as a matter of course) and also hosts cultural events. Quite loud downstairs, but can be peaceful upstairs if there is nothing on.

53.401342-2.98050725The Monro, 92-94 Duke St, ☏+44 151 707-9933. Popular gastro-pub serving good British food from rabbit and boar right through to the local delicacy, scouse. All washed down with a pint of ale.

Piccolino's, 16 Cook St, ☏+44 151 236-2555. Good Italian food and wines. All served in a friendly warm restaurant. Try to get one of the plush red booths. Booking recommended.Mains £8-15.

Thomas Rigby's, 23-25 Dale St, ☏+44 151 236-3269. One of the finest pubs in the city offering a selection of local and world beers plus a fantastic food menu. The "proper chips" offered with the battered fish are excellent.

Lark Lane is about 2.5 miles to the south of the city centre, a very pleasant (and less stressful than the city) place and is one of the better places to eat out. The road, which connects Aigburth Road with Sefton Park, is home to many unique restaurants, cafés and other shops. It is quite isolated, i.e. you will only find residential areas around it, but the street itself is worth the trip. Most pubs and bars serve real ales. Some choice picks include:

53.380311-2.94672553Green Days Cafe, Little Parkfield Road, L17 8US, ☏+44 151 728-8259. Bills itself as The first choice cafe for veggies. The only non veggie item on their dishes and snacks is tuna. It's a great place for lunch in a friendly atmosphere for both veggies and non-veggies.

Liverpool's nightlife is both famous and infamous, with Rough Guides placing a night out in the city at number three on their list of fifty things to do before you die. There's a huge selection of pubs, clubs and bars to suit a variety of music and atmospheric tastes. Friday and especially Saturday nights are the busiest nights, although a few bars are busy with students throughout the week. The areas around Mathew Street and Concert Square with nearby Wood Street are the main two nocturnal focal points. There is a good mix of locals and students. It is best to dress smart for the majority of bars and clubs (such as "Society" and "Garlands"). Notable exceptions are places like Le Bateau, the Krazy house, the Caledonia and other places of a similar alternative style. Like any major UK city, it is pretty safe out at night. The local police have had a heavy presence on a Friday and Saturday night to combat any problems and are largely succeeding. It is pretty busy getting out of the city centre at the end of a weekend (especially at the start of university term time - Sep/Oct). There are plenty of black hackney cabs which congregate at various taxi ranks. The Merseyrail system works until about midnight, whilst there are a series of dedicated night buses which run from the main bus stations, usually for a flat fare. All modes of transport tend to become very busy from around midnight.

Liverpool is home to the Cains brewery which produces a large selection of cask beers.

Dr Duncan's, St John's Lane – This is the premier pub for the local Cains brewery. It has a fine reputation and consequently is full of middle-aged professional drinkers. The pub has the full range of Cains beers, including Dr Duncan's IPA. Rudimentary bar menu, but good busy atmosphere on the weekend.

The Dispensary, Intersection of Renshaw and Leece Streets – Another of the local Cains brewery houses. Charming Victorian bar area. Usually has two rotating guest beers, plus a large selection of bottled beers and ciders.

The Globe, 17 Cases St (tucked away, adjacent to Clayton Square shopping centre, opposite the Ranelagh Street entrance of Central Station). A small, often cramped. This is a traditional Liverpool pub, with no-nonsense barmaids. Usually busy after 5PM and during the weekend, acting as a refuge for husbands abandoned by, or having escaped from, their shopping-mad spouses. Always a good variety of guests.

The Crown, 43 Lime St. Next to the station. Most likely the first pub you will see upon arriving in Liverpool.

The Pilgrim, Pilgrim Street – Located off Hardman Street, this pub serves the best breakfast in town, £4 for a king size feast. You also get to share the pub with stag parties and students wondering what happened the night before.

The Canarvon Castle, 5 Tarleton St. Established for about 200 years, this small and homely pub was named after Lord Carnarvon. Packed full of collectors items - model cars, lorries, handcuffs and truncheons - it attracts a mixture of clientele. Serving good quality real ales, the pub is also popular for its range of hot snacks including the well-loved Carnarvon toasties.

Pig & Whistle, 12 Covent Garden. This pub has been refurbished and transformed into a rather fake-looking pub.

Peter Kavanagh's, 2-6 Egerton St. An unusual and old-world hideaway can be found just outside the city centre. Built 150 years ago, the walls are adorned with art deco murals painted in 1929 and the snugs are themed with various artefacts such as musical instruments and chamber pots. The friendly atmosphere makes this a favourite with artists, locals, travellers and musicians. George Melly, a famous jazz player is known to frequent this pub when visiting the city. If you're in for a tradional English breakfast, this pub serves great black pudding and all the fixings from noon to 4PM.

Poste House, 23 Cumberland St. Most nights has a gay friendly bar serving cheap cocktails upstairs from the main pub.

The Brookhouse Smithdown Rd. Used to be one of Liverpool's pubs was a hangout of bands of the late 1980s such as the La's. It's now most popular with students, and is known for its Liverpool games when locals lead the Liverpool chants and become the vocal cords of this old pub.

The Old Post Office, School Ln. Friendly pub famous for its steak and mixed grill meals. Great for watching sports as there are three TVs including one big screen.

The Vines, Lime Street – A stylish club.

GBar, Eberle Street – Popular gay-friendly club with two floors. Upstairs, 'The Church' offers funky house music and campy classics in the 'Love Lounge'. Downstairs 'The Bass-ment' pumps out quality vocal house music. Open Th-M. Costs £5-7 for non-members.

El Bandito, 41b Slater St, L1 4BX, ☏+44 151 707-8560. W-Su 9PM into the morning. A small cocktail bar in a basement room. Combines the feeling of being in a bombed-out house with that of being in a living room. (updated Aug 2015)

Heebiejeebies. A large, lively, destination venue with live music and open air courtyard. Open until 4AM at weekends. (Photo ID required for entry.)

Heebies Basement. A late night bar-come-club playing a broad spectrum of electronic music including Hip Hop and indie. No drink costs more than £2.50. Open F Sa until 5AM and Tu-Th until 4AM. (Photo ID required for entry.)

The Peacock. A pub with a wide drink selection and free BBQ every Friday at 6PM. Has an intimate club room upstairs open Thursday - Saturday. Electic tunes downstairs Su-Th until 2AM, F Sa until 3AM.

Concert Square is situated behind Bold Street, where you'll find a range of the trendier bars. Most bars are open M-Sa until 2AM. They include Lloyd's, Walkabout, Modo and a minute away near Slater Street is Baa-Bar. This district usually has the youngest crowd drinking here.

Baa Bar, Fleet Street - The City’s leading shooter bar. This is the place to go if you like £1 shots, good music and a great atmosphere. Baa Bar Fleet Street has been rocking concert square for over 20 years, with the biggest DJs in Liverpool. Its extensive 32-strong shooter menu and newly refurbished upstairs terrace makes it stand out from the crowd, in an area where competition is fierce.

O'Neills, Wood Street – Part of the O'Neills chain but don't let that put you off. Its managed by two real Irish men who know what a real Irish bar means. Good beer, food and good music is always on hand here. You also might bump into a few Liverpool FC players drinking in the corner.

The Krazy House, Wood Street – The club provides three floors. K1 with rock and metal, K2 with indie and K3 with Punk/R&B/Dance, all combined with constant cheap drinks. It attracts a crowd of skate punks, students and metal heads. You'll hear R&B and dance music on Thursday, punk and new wave on Friday and new metal on Saturday night.

Le Bateau, Duke Street – The home of Liverpool's premier alternative club night, Liquidation every Saturday, which is also the city's longest running weekly club night spread across two floors. Plus Adult Books on Tuesdays, Shoot The Messenger on Wednesdays, Indication on Fridays. Cheap drinks every night, plus a Royal Rumble pinball table. Very friendly and popular with a mix of locals and students all year round.

The Swan Inn, Wood St – Liverpool's only rocker/metalhead pub, it actually has quite an eclectic mix of customers during the week, ranging from construction workers to businessmen, all side by side sharing pints. In the evenings and weekends, this gives way to the alternative/rocker scene. Pub quiz every Thursday evening and a legendary jukebox. Listed with the local CAMRA group.

53.4061-2.987221The Cavern Club, 10 Mathew Street, L2 6RE, ☏+44 151 236-1965. Although the original Cavern Club—a former bomb shelter in the basement of a Liverpool warehouse—was filled in in the 1970s, it was re-excavated and recreated in the 1980s using many of the same bricks. Today it continues as a live music venue, not to mention a tourist attraction. Many of Britain's most popular groups played its stage in the 1960s, most famously The Beatles, who made almost 300 appearances here between 1961 and 1963.

53.406057-2.987582The Cavern Pub, 5 Mathew Street, L2 6RE, ☏+44 151 236-4041. Sister pub of the Cavern Club opposite. Similar atmosphere with another stage and memorabilia on the walls.

53.406057-2.987583The Grapes, 25 Mathew St, L2 6RE, ☏+44 151 255-1525. The Beatles' favourite pub. They would drink here before and after their many gigs at the Cavern Club, and there is a corner of the pub dedicated to them. It even has a photo of them sitting down in seats that are still there today.

Sometimes considered the commercial district and is populated by office workers during the week.

The Ship and Mitre, 138 Dale St. Consistently voted one of the top cask ale pubs in Liverpool by the Merseyside branch of CAMRA. Has a wide, and frequently changing, variety of guest ales. It also has a large selection of bottled foreign beers (though this selection pales slightly in comparison to that of other pubs in the area). Hot and cold food is served in the afternoons and evenings.

Rigby's, Dale Street – This cask ale pub dates back to Lord Nelson and has been refurbished by the Isle of Mann Okell's Brewery (to become their first UK mainland pub). Good atmosphere. Busy on weekend nights and also does meals in the bar.

The Railway Hotel, 18 Tithebarn St. Over a hundred years old, this old Victorian pub has several original features, many of which would interest the historian as much as the beer lover. The tall ornate ceilings, wood panelling and traditional bar create an inviting and impressive atmosphere. Surrounded by stained glass windows, the lounge, snug and dining areas are well decorated. An open fireplace and displays of old prints add to the comfortable ambience.

Ma Boyles Oyster bar, 2 Tower Gardens. weekdays only. Secluded pub in the business area of the city. Set below street level, the high ceilings and terracotta walls create a relaxing ambience with a separate dining area and a cosy drinking den. The much-acclaimed menu includes dishes such as hot lamb and mint sauce pitas, and of course the local delicacy of Scouse and red cabbage.

The Baltic Fleet, 33 Wapping, ☏+44 151 709-3116. Just over the road from the Albert Dock, this unique pub is a great place to escape from the glossy and expensive bars on the Albert Dock. Serving good food and real ale at good prices, and with a friendly atmosphere. The basement houses Wapping Beers, a small brewery. Take the opportunity to taste one of their own beers as fresh as it comes.

Universities of Liverpool and John Moores students from the student residential areas descend here during term time.

53.401939-2.9704110Korova, 32 Hope Street, L1 9BX, ☏+44 151 709-7097, fax: +44 151 708-8751. M-Sa 11AM-late; Su 11AM-midnight. Part bar, part club, split between two floors. Upstairs there is the lush front area replete with orange leather booths and over-table televisions which usually stream the live action from downstairs. At the back is the kitchen, which during the day serves a range of freshly cooked meals. Downstairs the intimate gig venue has hosted some of the biggest names in music, and is an important venue for local musicians. Free Wi-fi.

53.399355-2.96835511The Caledonia, Catharine Street, L8 7NH, ☏+44 151 709-5909. Underground, alternative music venue in a pub. DJs and live bands throughout the week. First Friday of every month is the infamous "It's Not Bangin", with classic dub reggae, soul and disco playing. Well worth a visit..

The Philharmonic – Located on the corner of Hope Street and Hardman Street, this Tetley heritage pub is opposite the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. Formerly a gentleman's club, there are two small, snug rooms and a larger dining room to the back with leather sofas and an open fire. The gentlemen's toilets are grade 1 listed and ladies may ask permission to view them at the bar. Excellent food served both from the bar and in the dining rooms upstairs. Usual cask beers include Timothy Taylor's Landlord, Caledonian Deuchars IPA and Tetley's.

The Cambridge – Located at the corner of Cambridge Street and Mulberry Street. This pub is at the heart of the University of Liverpool and has a great atmosphere. It is very popular with both students and lecturers.

The Augustus John, Peach St. This is an obligatory hang out for Liverpool's students. Like most student pubs, the bar area gets packed during September and October.

Roscoe Head, 26 Roscoe St.

Fly in the Loaf, Hardman Street, Today it arguably serves the finest quality and variety of cask ales in the city centre. The Fly in the Loaf has a good mix of students and local regulars. It includes bar meals and wide-screen televisions for football and is one of the few Liverpool pubs that regularly show rugby league.

Ye Cracke, 13 Rice St. This pub was a favourite haunt of John Lennon's uncle and hasn't changed much since then. Can get quite dodgy at night. (updated Jul 2019)

To the south of the city centre, the bohemian Baltic Triangle has transformed over the past few years from moribund industry to the coolest place in the UK according to The Times. At the heart of the district is the former Cains brewery, which is now a large and ultra-trendy collection of bars, pubs, clubs, markets, and food stalls.

Camp and Furnace, 67 Greenland St, L1 0BY, ☏+44 151 708 2890. Home of the legendary Bongo's Bingo nights which are now franchised out all over the UK (must be booked in advance).£££. (updated Jul 2019)

Hobo Kiosk, 9 Bridgewater St, L1 0AR. Hours vary.. Tiny and cosy art-filled micro-pub owned by an artist couple who are also the only staff. Very friendly atmosphere with selection of craft beers. (updated Jul 2019)

There are a number of hotels in the city, ranging from budget guesthouses and lodges to 4-star international properties. Liverpool has no 5-star hotels but two in grade I listed buildings (Premier Inn and Holiday Inn Express), three in grade II* listed buildings (30 James St, Titanic Hotel and Marriott Aloft) and a further eight hotels in grade II listed buildings (Doubletree Hilton, Crowne Plaza Liverpool Airport, Hard Days Night Hotel, Racquet Club, 62 Castle St, the Richmond Aparthotel, Adagio Aparthotel, Britannia Adelphi and Radisson Red (opening 2020)).

Belvedere Hotel, 83 Mount Pleasant (City Centre), ☏+44 151 709-2356. A B&B run by an old lady. Basic room. Shared toilet and shower. Price includes full English breakfast in the downstairs living room. 2 minutes from Lime St. station.£25 single room.

The Embassie Hostel, 1 Falkner Square, ☏+44 151 707-1089. Check-in: 10AM, check-out: noon. This hostel features free coffee, tea, and toast (with jam and peanut butter). Very comfortable beds (dormitory style), and a great mix of international travellers to befriend. The hostel has friendly staff, led by their wonderful boss and hostel proprietor, Kevin who tells a Beatles story or two, and leads a free Beatles tour every Thursday night which ends up at The Cavern Club.Su-Th £16 pp, F Sa £21 pp.

Bankhall Hotel, ☏+44 7528190759. About 2 km from the city centre. All rooms are private. Free internet/Wi-Fi.From £11 per person per night incl breakfast, non-stop drinks.

53.4021-2.97131Cocoon International Inn, 4 South Hunter St (Off Hardman St), Liverpool, L1 9JG (about 15-min walk from Lime St). A hotel without breakfast. Staff is there 24 hrs and usually not very busy, very friendly and willing to help with minor quirks. Single room (2015) £38. (updated Aug 2015)

53.34754-2.88064[dead link]Crowne Plaza Liverpool Airport (formerly Marriott), Liverpool Airport Speke Aerodrome L24 8QD. A short drive from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, this makes fabulous use of its Grade II listed art deco building which was the old airport terminal and control tower. If you are looking to eat out of the hotel then Damon's is a restaurant on the same site which you will enjoy if you like American kitsch and microwaved food. Apart from that, there is a retail park with the typical fast food restaurants just a short walk from the hotel. Grade II listed building.

53.40783-2.981965Marriott Liverpool City Centre, 1 Queen Square (in the heart of the city), ☏+44 151 476-8000. Claims to be a 4-star property but is now a little tired. The Marriot is surrounded by the Queen's Square complex with its bars and restaurants.

53.41069-2.996497Radisson Blu, 107 Old Hall St, ☏+44 151 966-1500. On the old St. Paul's Eye Hospital site in the business district of the city. A small part of the original building has been retained and incorporated into the hotel.

53.399093335364-2.991650104522711Premier Inn, Albert Dock, East Britannia Building, Albert Dock (just off the A5036. Follow the brown tourist signs for the 'Albert Dock' and the 'Beatles Story'; once inside the dock, the hotel is in the middle of the Britannia Pavilion beside the Beatles Story), ☏+44 870 990 6432, fax: +44 870 990 6433. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. The hotel is in original warehouse, has been well transformed and has the vaulted ceilings. While room allocation is mostly luck some rooms have classic views over the dock; others of the new Liverpool Arena. Early booking essential; cheap/discounted rooms now impossible to find because of the high demand/location. No hotel parking - nearby at about £12/day. Grade I listed building, Britannia Pavilion.Around £66 per room per night.

Liverpool is policed by Merseyside Police. If you need immediate assistance in an emergency, dial 999. For non-emergency assistance, either telephone 101 or visit one of two city centre Police stations open to the public:

St Anne's St Police Station, St Anne's St, Liverpool, L3 3HJ

Merseyside Police Headquarters, Canning Place, L1 8JX

Crime rates in Liverpool are low compared with most other large cities in the UK. You are no more likely to be a victim here than most other European cities. However, as in other cities, you should observe a few simple precautions. Don't leave valuables on display in an unattended car, for example. Even an empty car will get a smashed window from time to time, so try to park yours at private parks when the night comes. Try to stay aware of your surroundings and be discreet with cash, expensive camera equipment, etc.

Scousers are mainly gregarious and friendly people, but there are still some who seek to take advantage. You will find, however, that Mancunians and Scousers get along much better than the stereotype suggests and you will very often come across each in each other's city. Be particularly aware of people who approach you in the street with stories of having lost their train fare home. These are typically begging techniques.

Stay on the beaten track at night and stick to the many themed pub and bars and avoid some of the larger dance clubs as these are more suited to streetwise locals or people who understand Liverpool culture well, although to be fair, most Scousers will welcome anyone to their city, and especially their clubs! Be prepared to wait for a taxi at night and don't be tempted to walk back to your hotel unless you are close by. Although Liverpool is a quite friendly place, a slightly sinister side appears after hours.

Some of the City's districts should be avoided by non-locals. Areas such as Croxteth, Dovecot, Everton, Huyton, Kensington, Kirkdale, Norris Green, Page Moss, Stockbridge Village and Toxteth are seeing some serious issues with gang related violence including increases in gun and knife crime and several murders have been recorded.

Around the city centre, be aware there are many homeless people, especially around William Brown Street near the museums. Unlike, in, say, the United States of America or other parts of the United Kingdom, these are less likely to pose a threat to you, and although they may beg for money, they tend to be friendly and often want to talk about their backstories openly with you. Give them money, but at your own risk, as long as it's small change.

Also, older women may (and often do) flirt with younger men, but accept this part of the Liverpool cultural milieu. This also applies to the homelessness situation mentioned above, which much the same situation tends to happen. This should not be confused with prostitution (mentioned below). It is explicitly not solicitation, and is just flirting.

Although prostitution is legal in the UK, solicitation is illegal and it is a fact of life in most cities, Liverpool being no exception. The "Red Light" areas are as follows: around Netherfield Road North and the Shiel Road area of Kensington. Although quiet during the day, there is a lot of business at night and particularly on weekends. Women walking by themselves have been known to be approached by men looking for prostitutes and people in vehicles have been known to be approached by prostitutes looking for business.

Avoid Manchester United shirts, which worn in the wrong place makes you an easy target for abuse or worse even assault, especially on match day.

A friendly manner, a polite smile, and a sense of humour go a long way in this city, but a sensible approach to travelling is, as always, advisable.

The 1989 Hillsborough Stadium Disaster, when 96 Liverpool FC fans were killed, is still a very sensitive subject that is best avoided. Carrying or reading The Sun newspaper, which made extremely offensive and false claims about Liverpool fans' behaviour during the disaster, holding them culpable for the deaths, is practically guaranteed to attract negative attention. This is especially true around people who may have been drinking. Most local shops do not sell the paper and a strong boycotting movement exists in the city to this day.

Be aware that the streetlighting (Urbis Evolo 2, shown on the right-hand side of the picture) is brighter than you might expect, and drive more cautiously. These streetlights are common across the city centre and in Kensington. Drive much more cautiously if you see them. These are less common outside of Liverpool. Americans may be used to bright lights, but Evolos are really bright.

Less than an hour away, Manchester holds a wealth of sights and attractions.

Chester - A beautiful historical city on the River Dee, which is famous for its Roman ruins and city walls. It is also the Gateway to North Wales and the delights of Llandudno and Snowdonia National Park.At the end of a branch at the end of the Merseyrail (metro) Wirral Line, trains taking 41 minutes from Liverpool Central.

Crosby - Just north of Liverpool with Anthony Gormley's Another Place famous sculptures on the beach.Merseyrail Northern Line takes 20 minutes from Liverpool Central to Blundellsands station.

Manchester – Once the home of the industrial revolution, it has now swapped its chimneys for skyscrapers, and mill workers for urbanite accountants and designers. It is also the home of the most successful football club in England, Manchester United FC. Well worth a visit and is easy to get to; hourly local trains from Lime Street run to Manchester Victoria taking 56 minutes, expresses to Victoria or to Oxford Road and Piccadilly taking 41. Also accessible by coach/bus.

Birkenhead – Across the Mersey, Birkenhead has a football club called Tranmere Rovers. Although this club has always lived in the shadow of Everton and Liverpool, it has a long tradition and a great family atmosphere. Well worth a visit.Ferries ply across the Mersey from Pier Head to Birkenhead Woodside. It takes 3 minutes for a train to go from Liverpool James Street to Birkenhead Hamilton Square; Add 2 minutes for each additional stop if getting on earlier around the loop, & add 3 minutes for Birkenhead Central (shopping centre & Priory) or 7 for Tranmere Rovers' local station, Rock Ferry.

Port Sunlight - It was built as a model village by Lord Lever and contains the Lady Lever Art Gallery, a marvelously eclectic collection of objects, similar to the Burrell Collection in Glasgow. Twenty minutes on the Wirral line.

West Kirby - Boasts a superb beach. There is also a 52-acre marine lake which has sailing and windsurfing. 36 minutes by Wirral line.

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